PARIS — French lawmakers have approved legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, marking the first such nationwide restriction in Europe as the government seeks to tighten protections for minors online amid growing concerns about the effects of digital platforms on young people's mental health and safety.
The bill was adopted by both houses of parliament on July 21 after lawmakers reached a compromise on its final text. President Emmanuel Macron, who has championed the measure as part of a broader push to reduce children's screen time, has said he wants the law to take effect before the start of the new school year in September.
Under the legislation, children younger than 15 will be prohibited from creating new social media accounts beginning Sept. 1. Platforms covered by the law will be required to implement age-verification systems approved by France's data protection authority and will have several months to close existing accounts held by users under the minimum age. The measure applies broadly to social networking services rather than naming specific companies. Educational platforms and certain other online services are exempt.
"France opens the way by being the first country in Europe to adopt a digital majority," junior minister for artificial intelligence Anne Le Hénanff told senators during parliamentary debate, according to Reuters. Macron said after the vote that the legislation represented an important step in protecting children and teenagers online.
The legislation follows similar action in Australia, which introduced restrictions on social media access for users under 16, and comes as governments in several countries consider stronger safeguards for children using online platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for a graduated approach to children's access to digital services across the European Union.
Supporters of the French law argue it will help reduce children's exposure to cyberbullying, harmful content and excessive screen use. Some critics, however, have questioned whether broad age-verification requirements could create privacy concerns and whether the measure is fully compatible with European Union rules governing digital services. The European Commission is expected to assess the legislation's compliance with EU law.
Before taking effect, the legislation is expected to undergo review by France's Constitutional Council, while the government prepares implementing measures and technical standards for age verification.
